Murder in the Crypt

Our next stop is Essex for a classic English village mystery. I knew from the moment I read the opening scene—the grisly discovery of a young man entombed in the crypt of the usually murder-free parish church—that I was going to love the story. And I did.   

I was delighted to see how the tranquility of the pastoral scenes—the thatched-roof cottages, the earthy smell of horses in the stable, the square, Norman-style church tower overlooking the village green—carried through the story and beautifully counterpointed the skullduggery at the heart of the mystery.

The quaint village atmosphere heightens the tension in… show more.

I know I keep beating the same drum, but just try to take a look at that cover and tell me the story doesn’t look intriguing (and yes, I do see the similarities between this cover and that of The Murder on Black Swan Lane). 

Like any self-respecting English mystery, this one begins with a main character discovering he’s received a bequest of an English estate and its accompanying title. This particular main character is Jason Redmond, a Captain and doctor in the Union Army during the American Civil War. At the end of the war, he returns home… show more.

This pick has a bit more of a standard mystery (and a touch less magic), but what’s magical about it is the Victorian setting. Set in a quaint village, it’s the perfect blend of Murder, She Wrote and Victoria Holt!  You’ll find yourself immersed in the world of Redmond and Haze and with plenty more books after this one filled with murder and intrigue, you’ll want to binge-read the currently published books in the series on a cold, rainy day!